Hematite 27One of the wandering giraffes managed to anger one of our turkey hens. I knew that turkeys weren't exactly bright, but when you're outweighed 50 to 1, a fight isn't the best idea.
In other news, when excavating a few small rooms for use as additional masonry facilities, we found the edge of a platinum vein, as well as two low value clusters of gems.
Construction of a depot has begun as well, we have a more than full season to finish it. Chaosgear has been told to stop mining, so that he can focus on crafting. We need some valuables to trade when the caravan arrives, after all. Further excavation of the stairwell has revealed some wet stone, so I must have lucked out, placing it just far enough from the water to reach all the way down. I'm glad I didn't have to dig multiple shafts.
Malachite 16Summer is halfway through. I've dug a well room next to the stairwell, but only one of the two wellshafts that I dug struck water immediately. I took advantage of the dry spot to dig down a bit further to test for water, and found a fairly dry area. Once the bottom half of the shaft is floored over, I'll connect the two shafts so that the aquifer can fill both of them, and we'll have access to water for drinking and cleaning. I'm drawing up plans for our hospital and barracks now. Until more dwarves arrive, though, progress will be slow.
Malachite 23Migrants! Well, two of them. Iden "Cheedows" Zatthudnokim, an apprentice stonecrafter, and Onol Ziriloddom, a fisherdwarf and apprentice weaver. Cheedows has been handed Chaosgear's old copper pick and told to get to work, while Onol has been given access to the masonry stations. I was hoping for at least a couple more migrants, but the mountainhome must be hesitant to commit more dwarves still. We shall show them!
Sandstone 23Mid-autumn now, but there hasn't been much to report the past few months. However, another wave of 4 migrants arrived:
Cog "Coalwalker" Kakdalcatten, a fisherdwarf
Bembul Lolokothsin, a farmer with basic skills in tanning, bee keeping, and shearing
Nish Likotzoluth, a hunter and mechanic
Reg "ILBane" Shigoskeskal, a speardwarf
Our hospital rooms have been dug out. Once the furniture is assembled, we will have a proper medical area. Further areas have been dug out to set up temporary workshops. A small series of 10'x10' (2x2 squares) rooms have been dug out to serve as a mausoleum for any brave dwarves who fall. Two mudstone coffins occupy a pair of these rooms. Hopefully it is a long time until they are needed.
Coalwalker has had his fishing rod revoked, and turned into a full-time mason/engraver. Bembul will serve as our butcher, and once she finishes setting up a workshop, she will put our heavily wounded turkey hen out of her misery. The water buffallo and camel that we were given as pack animals will meet similar fates. Bembul will also be responsible for leatherworking, and get a couple suits of leather armor crafted with the skins I brought with me.
ILBane has been drafted into the militia, but until a proper barracks is set up, will help out with mining (the spare pick has been finished). And Nish will be allowed to hunt until winter, and then focus on his mechanic knowledge plus dabbling as an armorsmith.